Destination
The NC500
Scotland's ultimate road trip — start it from Scotch Corner or Darlington.
The North Coast 500 is a 516-mile loop from Inverness around Scotland's northern coast. Our A1(M) pickups are the practical southern gateway: leave Scotch Corner or Darlington in the morning and you can be at Inverness by dinner. Hire the van for 7–14 nights and take on the loop at your own pace.
From our pickups
Scotch Corner
~5 hours to Inverness up the A1 and A9.
Darlington
~5 hours to Inverness up the A1 and A9.
Ripon
~5 hours 30 to Inverness via A1(M) and A9.
Highlights
- Applecross Pass — Britain's most exhilarating switchback
- Achmelvich beach — Caribbean-white sands in Assynt
- Smoo Cave and Sango Sands near Durness
- Duncansby Head stacks — better than John O'Groats itself
- Torridon and Loch Maree for towering mountain drama
Suggested itinerary
A trip you could actually do.
- 01Days 1–2: Drive Scotch Corner → Moffat → Fort William → Inverness. Overnight at Tebay and Moffat en route.
- 02Days 3–6: Inverness clockwise via John O'Groats, Durness, Ullapool.
- 03Days 7–10: Torridon, Applecross, Skye detour, back through Fort William.
Best time to go: May-June and September avoid midges and school-holiday traffic.
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